Apparatus and methods for multi-stage multiplexing in a network

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for performing multiplexing of video or other content (e.g., programs) within a network using feed-back from a subsequent digital program insertion stage, and/or feed-forward information from a prior multiplexing stage. In one embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network having headend and hub-based statistical multiplexing stages, and communication between the two stages is used to improve the visual quality performance and bandwidth utilization of the output multi-program stream during conditions where downstream content is inserted into the transport stream. Business methods associated with the various multiplexing features described above are also disclosed.

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to co-ownedand U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/608,800 of the same title filedon Sep. 10, 2012, which is issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 8,699,530 on Apr.15, 2014, and which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/577,598 of the same title filed Oct. 12,2009, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,265,104 on Sep. 11, 2012, which is acontinuation of and claims priority to U.S. Pat. No. 7,602,820 filed onFeb. 1, 2005 and issued on Oct. 13, 2009, each of the foregoing isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to the fields of statisticalmultiplexing and distribution of content such as e.g., digital video. Inone exemplary aspect, the invention relates to improving the performanceof a video multiplexer/encoder in a digital cable network by usinginformation from a previous or a subsequent multiplexing or programinsertion stage.

2. Description of Related Technology

In a conventional digital television network, digital programming isusually collected at a central location, assembled in multiple transportstreams and transported to other intermediate locations in the networkfor further downstream transportation to consumer premises equipment(CPE). These intermediate locations may alter the aggregated programmultiplex received from the central location by replacing or changingthe rate associated with programs in the original multiplex. Forexample, in a coaxial cable network, a cable operator can choose toinsert local programming or advertisements at a hub location, and modifythe aggregated programs received from a headend before the signal issent downstream to the subscriber premises or other distribution nodes.The replacement programming may be available at the intermediatelocation in uncompressed (e.g., analog) or pre-compressed (e.g., MPEG-2transport stream) format. In the recent years, more and more centrallocations (e.g., cable headends) have begun using statisticalmultiplexing techniques to efficiently create the centrally aggregatedprogram multiplexes.

As is well known, statistical multiplexing (colloquially referred to as“stat mux”) is a technique used to efficiently pack multiple programswithin a transport stream. This technique relies on the principle thatthe instantaneous bandwidth required to transmit a given programfluctuates over time, typically based on the ease of compression of thevideo content. This makes bandwidth-efficient transmission of multipleprograms possible as a multiplex by sharing the allocated bitrate.Because the bitrate peaks of separate program streams do not occursimultaneously, a group of programmers can share an allocated bitratethat is smaller than the sum of the bitrate peaks of the program streamscarried. Furthermore, the bitrate contribution each individual programstream is typically controlled (commonly referred to as rate shaped) toprovide both a safety factor and even greater efficiencies. Conventionalapproaches to statistical multiplexing have recognized that the greaterthe number of programs in a multiplex (i.e., “pool size”), the betterthe chances of using bandwidth efficiently.

While the use of statistical multiplexing is beneficial in many aspects,including for example reduced storage and transportation costs, itcreates a new set of design challenges that must be adequatelyaddressed. For example, when the program streams sent from the headendto a hub are statistically multiplexed together, local insertion ofmaterial presents additional considerations and challenges formaximization of the multiplex efficiency.

When a statistically multiplexed digital program or content is removedfrom the multiplex, and another digital program is inserted in itsplace, the instantaneous bandwidth requirements of the two programs arealmost never identical. If the instantaneous bandwidth of the originalprogram is less than the instantaneous bandwidth required by the programto be inserted, the program to be inserted has to be quantized to alower rate, resulting in a loss in quality. However, when theinstantaneous bandwidth of the original program is greater than that ofthe program to be inserted, the quality of a previously encodedreplacement program cannot be improved any more than what is alreadypresent. Therefore, replacement of a statistically multiplexed programgenerally results in a reduction in quality of the inserted program. Insome conventional systems, this quality problem is addressed byproviding unused bandwidth in the original multiplex to accommodate forthe differences in instantaneous bandwidths.

A variety of approaches to statistical multiplexing and communicationbetween encoding stages are in evidence under the prior art. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,664 to Budge, et al. issued Jan. 13, 1998entitled “Statistical multiplexing” discloses a transmitter fortransmitting a plurality of digital signals through a plurality ofchannels, the channels having a predetermined total allocated bitrate.The transmitter includes a plurality of encoders each associated withone channel, a multiplexer for receiving the encoded digital signals andfor transmitting the encoded signals as a stream of data, and operablefor adjusting the distribution of the bitrate allocation between andamong the encoded signals, and a processing device for providing anindication of a target quality and an actual quality for each channeland for causing the multiplexer to repeatedly adjust the distribution ofthe bitrate allocation in response to differences between the indicatedactual quality and the indicated target quality for each channel so asto equalize differences between the actual and target quality across atleast some of the channels. By grouping encoders together in“statistical multiplex groups”, and making real time decisions about thebitrate requirements for those encoders, bitrate can be allocated tomaximize picture quality for the group. For a variety of differentpicture sources in a statistical multiplex group, to achieve a targetpicture quality the bitrate requirements of each will vary with codingdifficulty. Thus, a channel within the statistical multiplex group thatis experiencing little difficulty in encoding its picture can free bitsto channels that are having greater difficulty. The effect is to smooththe picture quality and subjectively improve it.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,358 to Pinder, et al. issued Apr. 17, 2001 entitled“Adaptive rate control for insertion of data into arbitrary bit ratedata streams” discloses apparatus wherein the rate of insertion of data,such as MPEG table packets, into an outgoing bit stream is varied by apacket handler. The packet handler, which is located in a modulator in acable television system headend, comprises control logic and a packetrouter. The actual insertion rate of the outgoing data is based on thebit stream's available capacity for insertion of data and the desiredinsertion rate of the data. When the available capacity for insertionequals or exceeds the desired insertion rate, the actual insertion rateequals the desired insertion rate. When the available capacity forinsertion is less than the desired insertion rate, the actual insertionrate is reduced from the desired insertion rate. The inventiondynamically determines the available capacity for insertion and adjuststhe actual insertion rate.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,716 to Knee, et al. issued Sep. 4, 2001 entitled“Video compression” discloses a method to manipulate an MPEG-2 or othercompressed video stream as separate information bus and coefficientstreams. The information bus stream contains motion vector informationbut also information derived from a previous decoding operation for usein a subsequent coding operation. Processing in the coefficient domainenables bit rate conversion without decoding to the pixel level and alsoostensibly simplifies the combination of MPEG layers.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,577,682 to Brightwell, et al. issued Jun. 10, 2003entitled “Video processing system also compressing coding decision data”discloses a method in which an MPEG2 decoded video signal is accompaniedby a representation of the coding decisions to aid downstreamre-encoding. The representation is MPEG compliant bit modified as anattempt to reduce the number of bits.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,045 to Matsumura, et al. issued Sep. 14, 2004entitled “Image signal transcoder capable of bit stream transformationsuppressing deterioration of picture quality” discloses An MPEG2 decoderportion decodes an input bit stream and outputs a digital decoded imagewhile extracting coding information and supplying the same to a controlportion. An MPEG2 encoder portion re-encodes the digital decoded imageoutput from the MPEG2 decoder portion. Coding information supplied fromthe control portion is reflected on a coding parameter in re-encoding.Transcoding between the MPEG2 standard and the DV standard can also beexecuted by arranging a decoder or an encoder corresponding to the DVstandard in place of either the MPEG2 decoder portion or the MPEG2encoder portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,795,506 to Zhang, et al. issued Sep. 21, 2004 entitled“Methods and apparatus for efficient scheduling and multiplexing”discloses techniques and mechanisms for scheduling and multiplexingcompressed bitstreams. A compressed bitstream includes bit rateinformation describing the bit rate of video data. The bit rateinformation is used to ostensibly improve the scheduling andmultiplexing efficiency of compressed bitstreams. Compressed video datacan be transmitted over communication channels at bit rates that complywith available channel bandwidth.

United States Patent Publication 20010055336 to Krause, et al. publishedDec. 27, 2001 and entitled “Compressed-Video Re-encoder System ForModifying The Compression Ratio Of Digitally Encoded Video Programs”discloses a compressed video decoder/encoder (re-encoder) system forvarying the compression ratio of a compressed video program. Thecomposite re-encoder system implements tightly coupled elements fordecoding and encoding compressed video data implementing techniques ofheader forwarding and utilizing an architecture in which a shared motioncompensator supports both decoding and encoding operationssimultaneously. The re-encoder system may be introduced in a statisticalmultiplexer for generating a compressed video data stream multiplexsuitable for use in cable distribution and other video distributionsystems.

United States Patent Publication No. 20020085584 to Itawaki, et al.published Jul. 4, 2002 entitled “Statistical multiplex system,statistical multiplex controller and method of statistical multiplex”discloses a statistical multiplex system, a statistical multiplexcontroller and a method of statistical multiplex, which can assign bitrates to program data and auxiliary data for purposes of image quality.A statistical multiplex system is provided with: a plurality of imageencoders for encoding a plurality of program data; an informationencoder for encoding the auxiliary data; a multiplexing apparatus formultiplexing output thereof, and a statistical multiplex controller forcontrolling each of the image encoders and the information encoder. Thestatistical multiplex controller is made to set the bit rate to beassigned to the information encoder first, and to assign the remainingbit rates to each of the image encoders.

It is evident that while the prior art has in general recognized theutility of creating at one video encoding stage information helpful to anext video encoding stage (and communicating such information to thenext stage), it lacks effective and efficient methods and apparatus forthe distribution of statistically multiplexed video programs in aheadend/hub distribution system, especially in the context of localinsertion of content via a multi-stage multiplexer architecture.

Accordingly, it would be most desirable to implement methods andapparatus that provide a “first” (i.e., earlier or upstream) stagemultiplexer with information related to programs/content that will beinserted at a later stage), so that the first stage multiplexer can usethe information to create a program multiplex amenable or adapted to asubsequent digital program insertion. Similarly, it is desirable toimplement methods and apparatus that provide a “second” (i.e., later ordownstream) stage multiplexer with information related to theprogram/content present in the initial multiplex created by the firststage so that the second stage multiplexer can efficiently create theoutput multiplex. Efficient multiplexing of content would be provided,while taking into account subsequent any instantaneous bandwidthconstraints imposed by a prior or subsequent program insertion/removalor similar operation.

Furthermore, since it is typical for statistical multiplexers to makeuse of a wide range of statistical parameters, with each parameterhaving a broad spectrum of values, such improved methods and apparatuswould also ideally include a provision for the various multiplexingstages to exchange capability information with each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the foregoing needs by providing, invarious embodiments, methods and apparatus for statistical multiplexingof digital programs using information between two or more multiplexingstages, including where one or more programs are replaced with localcontent.

In a first aspect of the invention, an improved content distributionsystem is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system is adapted for thetransmission of a plurality of programs over a cable network, andcomprises: a first statistical multiplexing apparatus associated with afirst entity within the network; and a second statistical multiplexingapparatus associated with a second entity within the network, the secondapparatus receiving a multiplex of the programs generated by the firstapparatus. The first and second apparatus communicate through at leastone of a feed-back or feed-forward signal path, the communicationcomprising information useful in configuring the operation of one of thefirst or second apparatus in response to actions taken at the other ofthe first or second apparatus.

In a second aspect of the invention, improved headend multiplexingapparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus is adapted forthe transmission of a plurality of content elements over a cablenetwork, and comprises: first multiplexing apparatus adapted to receivethe plurality of content elements from one or more sources, and createat least one output multiplex based thereon; a process in communicationwith the first multiplexing apparatus and adapted to control at leastone aspect of the first apparatus in the creation of the outputmultiplex; and a data interface adapted to communicate data between theheadend apparatus and a second multiplexing apparatus within thenetwork, the data comprising information which allows for bandwidth orrate shaping applied by at least one of the first and secondmultiplexing apparatus.

In a third aspect of the invention, improved network multiplexingapparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus is adapted forthe transmission of content elements over a cable network, andcomprises: first multiplexing apparatus adapted to receive a firstmultiplex generated by a second multiplexing apparatus upstream of thefirst apparatus, the first multiplex comprising a plurality of contentelements; a process in communication with the first apparatus andadapted to control at least one of (i) the insertion of additionalcontent elements into the first multiplex, and (ii) removal of one ormore of the plurality of content elements within the first multiplex;and a data interface adapted to communicate data between the networkmultiplexing apparatus and the second multiplexing apparatus, the datacomprising information which allows for bandwidth or rate shapingapplied by at least one of the first and second multiplexing apparatus.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, a method of providing a pluralityof programs via a cable network having a first statistical multiplexingapparatus and a second statistical multiplexing apparatus is disclosed.In one embodiment, the second apparatus receives a multiplex of theprograms generated by the first apparatus, and the method comprisescommunicating at least one of a feed-back or feed-forward signal betweenthe first and second apparatus, the signal comprising information usefulin configuring the operation of one of the first or second apparatus inresponse to actions taken at the other of the first or second apparatus.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, a method of providing advertising orpromotions over a cable network is disclosed. In one embodiment, thenetwork has multiple multiplexing stages, and the method comprises:multiplexing a plurality of content elements together at a firstmultiplexing stage within the network to form a first multiplex; andproviding feed-back information to the first stage from a secondmultiplexing stage within the network, the second stage being downstreamin a transmission path from the first stage. The feed-back informationrelates to one or more advertising or promotion content elements to beinserted into the first multiplex at the second stage in order to form asecond multiplex; and the first multiplexing stage utilizes thefeed-back information to adjust at least one parameter associated withits operation in order to accommodate the one or more insertedadvertising or promotion content elements.

In a sixth aspect of the invention, a method of providing advertising orpromotions over a cable network having multiple multiplexing stages isdisclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: multiplexing aplurality of content elements together at a first multiplexing stagewithin the network to form a first multiplex; and providing feed-forwardinformation from the first stage to a second multiplexing stage withinthe network, the second stage being downstream in a transmission pathfrom the first stage and adapted to insert one or more advertising orpromotion content elements into the first multiplex in order to form asecond multiplex. The feed-forward information relates to one or moreparameters of the plurality of content elements or first multiplex; andthe second multiplexing stage utilizes the feed-forward information toadjust at least one parameter associated with its operation in order toaccommodate the inserted one or more advertising or promotion contentelements.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, a method of operating acontent-based network having a plurality of multiplexing stages using adelay between the stages is disclosed. In one embodiment, the methodcomprises: receiving a plurality of content elements at a first of theplurality of stages; generating a multiplex based at least in part onthe content elements; providing the multiplex to a second of theplurality of stages, the second stage being downstream from the firststage, the act of providing comprising introducing a delay, andproviding data relating to the multiplex to the second stage at leastcontemporaneously with the expiration of the delay. The delay is applieduniformly to the aggregate multiplex bitstream and to all programstreams that may need to be added to the multiplex. This allows “futurelooking” data about the bitrate needs of the streams in the multiplex(with an additional or substituted stream) to be provided to the secondstage prior the act of adding or substituting the new stream. Thisfuture looking data allows the second stage to improve the quality ofall rate shaping decisions.

In an eighth aspect of the invention, a method of operating acontent-based network having a plurality of multiplexing stages isdisclosed. In one embodiment, at least one of the stages comprises adistribution node servicing a CPE, and the method comprises: receiving aplurality of content elements at a first of the plurality of stages;generating a first multiplex based at least in part on the contentelements; providing the first multiplex to the distribution node, theact of providing comprising introducing a delay; providing data relatingto the first multiplex to the distribution node at leastcontemporaneously with the expiration of the delay; receiving at leastone service request from the CPE at the distribution node; andgenerating a second multiplex at the distribution node substantially inresponse to the service request, the second multiplex being generatedbased at least in part on the data. Stream substitution facilitated bythe time delay mechanism described above is applied to ordinary programstreams based on program stream requests that are made through variousCPE. In this manner, a “switched digital” broadcast is allowed to enjoythe advantages of statistical multiplexing heretofore not possible dueto the real-time nature of the switched programming and also channelswitching performance constraints.

In a ninth aspect of the invention, a method of doing business within acable network having at least first and second multiplex stages isdisclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: providingopportunities for content insertion within one or more designated zonesof the network; accepting requests for the insertion; generating a firstcontent multiplex at the first stage; and inserting content into thefirst multiplex within selected ones of the zones based at least in parton the requests; wherein the act of generating is based at least in parton information relating to the act of inserting.

In another embodiment, the method comprises providing opportunities forcontent insertion within one or more designated zones of the network;accepting requests for the insertion; generating a first contentmultiplex at the first stage; and inserting second content into thefirst multiplex within selected ones of the zones based at least in parton the requests; wherein the act of inserting comprises controlling atleast one parameter associated with the inserted second content byadjusting at least one parameter associated with the act of generating.

In a tenth aspect, a method of providing content over a contentdistribution network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the contentdistribution network has at least a first multiplexing apparatus and asecond multiplexing apparatus, the second multiplexing apparatus beingdisposed downstream of the first multiplexing apparatus, and the methodcomprises: (i) multiplexing a plurality of primary content elementstogether at the first multiplexing apparatus to form a first multiplex;(ii) delivering the first multiplex to the second multiplexing apparatusat or proximate to an expiration of a delay period; (iii) during thedelay period providing information relating to the first multiplex tothe second multiplexing apparatus; (iv) during the delay periodreceiving feed-back information from the second multiplexing apparatus,the feed-back information relating to one or more second contentelements requested by one or more subscribers to be inserted into thefirst multiplex; and (v) utilizing the feed-back information todynamically switch one or more second content elements into the firstmultiplex prior to the delivery thereof to the second multiplexingapparatus by the first multiplexing apparatus, the delivery beingsubstantially simultaneous with an expiration of the delay period.

In an eleventh aspect, a first multiplexing apparatus in a series of twoor more multiplexing apparatus within a content distribution network isdisclosed. In one embodiment, the first multiplexing apparatus isupstream of the two or more multiplexing apparatus in the series andcomprises an interface for communication to the two or more multiplexingapparatus; a storage apparatus; and a processor configured to execute atleast one computer program thereon, the computer program comprising aplurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, causethe first multiplexing apparatus to: (i) create a first multiplexcomprising a plurality of primary content elements; (ii) prior to theexpiration of a pre-determined delay period, provide informationrelating to the first multiplex to the at least one of the two or moremultiplexing apparatus; (iii) prior to the expiration of thepre-determined delay period, receive feed-back information from the atleast one of the two or more multiplexing apparatus, the feed-backinformation relating to one or more second content elements requested byone or more subscribers to be inserted into the first multiplex; and(iv) utilize the feed-back information to dynamically switch one or moresecond content elements into the first multiplex prior to a deliverythereof to the at least one of the two or more multiplexing apparatus,the delivery being substantially simultaneous with an expiration of thepre-determined delay period.

In a twelfth aspect, a content delivery network comprising at least afirst and second multiplexing apparatus in series is disclosed. In oneembodiment, the second multiplexing apparatus is downstream of the firstmultiplexing apparatus and comprises: an interface for communication tothe first multiplexing apparatus; a storage apparatus; and a processorconfigured to execute at least one computer program thereon, thecomputer program comprising a plurality of instructions which areconfigured to, when executed, cause the second multiplexing apparatusto: (i) receive information relating to a first multiplex comprising aplurality of content elements and generated by the first multiplexingapparatus and a delay period; (ii) receiving a request for one or moresecond content elements from one or more subscribers in communicationwith the second multiplexing apparatus during the delay period; (iii)generating feed-back information based at least in part on the request;(iv) delivering the feed-back information to the first multiplexingapparatus prior to an expiration of the delay period; and (v) uponexpiration of the delay period receive a second multiplex from the firstmultiplexing apparatus, the second multiplex comprising the requestedone or more second content elements.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willimmediately be recognized by persons of ordinary skill in the art withreference to the attached drawings and detailed description of exemplaryembodiments as given below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention arehereinafter described in the following detailed description ofillustrative embodiments to be read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings and figures, wherein like reference numerals are used toidentify the same or similar system parts and/or method steps, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating one exemplaryembodiment of HFC cable network architecture useful with the presentinvention.

FIG. 1a is a functional block diagram illustrating the various data andapplication sources and severs utilized within the exemplary network ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 1b is a functional block diagram illustrating one exemplaryhead-end configuration of the network of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a logical flow diagram of an exemplary method of performingcontent multiplexing according to the present invention.

FIG. 2a is a functional block diagram illustrating one exemplaryembodiment of a multi-stage (e.g., headend-hub) content distributionsystem according to the invention.

FIG. 2b is an graph illustrating how bitrates allocated to individualprograms within a statistical multiplexer are utilized efficiently in anexemplary embodiment of the present invention (e.g., by spreading anincreased bit rate requirement over multiple frames).

FIG. 2c is a functional block diagram illustrating another exemplaryembodiment of the multi-stage content distribution system according tothe invention, utilizing three multiplexing stages.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary configuration of afirst (e.g., headend) multiplexer stage according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary configuration of asecond (e.g., network or hub) multiplexer stage according to theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary configuration of amulti-stage multiplexed delivery system according to the invention,wherein a delay is imposed to permit the use of “future looking”feed-forward data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer tolike parts throughout.

As used herein, the term “MSO” refers to a cable, satellite, orterrestrial network provider having infrastructure required to deliverservices including programming and data over those mediums.

As used herein, the terms “network” and “bearer network” refer generallyto any type of telecommunications or data network including, withoutlimitation, hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks, satellite networks, telconetworks, and data networks (including MANs, WANs, LANs, WLANs, PANs,internets, and intranets). Such networks or portions thereof may utilizeany one or more different topologies (e.g., ring, bus, star, loop,etc.), transmission media (e.g., wired/RF cable, RF wireless, millimeterwave, optical, etc.) and/or communications or networking protocols(e.g., SONET, DOCSIS, IEEE Std. 802.3, 802.11, 802.15, 802.16 (WiMAX),ATM, X.25, Frame Relay, 3GPP, 3GPP2, WAP, SIP, UDP, FTP, RTP/RTCP,H.323, etc.).

As used herein, the term “QAM” refers generally to modulation schemesused for sending signals over coaxial cable or other networks. Suchmodulation scheme might use any constellation level (e.g. QAM16, QAM64,QAM256 etc.) depending on the details of a particular cable or other(e.g., satellite) network.

As used herein, the term “headend” refers generally to a networkedsystem controlled by an operator (e.g., an MSO or Multiple SystemsOperator) that distributes programming to MSO clientele using clientdevices. Such programming may include literally any informationsource/receiver including, inter alia, free-to-air TV channels, pay TVchannels, interactive TV, and the Internet. DSTBs may literally take onany configuration, and can be retail devices meaning that consumers mayor may not obtain their DSTBs from the MSO exclusively. Accordingly, itis anticipated that MSO networks may have client devices from multiplevendors, and these client devices will have widely varying hardwarecapabilities. Multiple regional headends may be in the same or differentcities.

As used herein, the term “content” refers to audio, video, graphicsfiles (in uncompressed or compressed format), icons, software, textfiles and scripts, data, binary files and other computer-usable dataused to operate a client device and produce desired audio-visual effectson a client device for the viewer.

As used herein, the terms “client device” and “end user device” include,but are not limited to, personal computers (PCs) and minicomputers,whether desktop, laptop, or otherwise, set-top boxes such as theMotorola DCT2XXX/5XXX and Scientific Atlanta Explorer2XXX/3XXX/4XXX/8XXX series digital devices, personal digital assistants(PDAs) such as the Apple Newton®. “Palm®” family of devices, handheldcomputers, personal communicators such as the Motorola Accompli devices,J2ME equipped devices, cellular telephones (including “smart phones”),wireless nodes, or literally any other device capable of interchangingdata with a network.

Similarly, the terms “Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE)” and “hostdevice” refer to any type of electronic equipment located within aconsumer's or user's premises and connected to a network. The term “hostdevice” refers generally to a terminal device that has access to digitaltelevision content via a satellite, cable, or terrestrial network. Thehost device functionality may be integrated into a digital television(DTV) set. The term “consumer premises equipment” (CPE) includeselectronic equipment such as set-top boxes, televisions, Digital VideoRecorders (DVR), gateway storage devices (Fumrnace), and ITV PersonalComputers.

As used herein, the term “application” refers generally to a unit ofexecutable software that implements a certain functionality or theme.The themes of applications vary broadly across any number of disciplinesand functions (such as on-demand content management, e-commercetransactions, brokerage transactions, home entertainment, calculatoretc.), and one application may have more than one theme. The unit ofexecutable software generally runs in a predetermined environment; forexample, the unit could comprise a downloadable Java Xlet™ that runswithin the JavaTV™ environment.

As used herein, the term “computer program” is meant to include anysequence or human or machine cognizable steps which perform a function.Such program may be rendered in virtually any programming language orenvironment including, for example, C/C++, Fortran, COBOL, PASCAL,assembly language, markup languages (e.g., HTML, SGML, XML, VoXML), andthe like, as well as object-oriented environments such as the CommonObject Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), Java™ (including J2ME, JavaBeans, etc.) and the like.

As used herein, the term “server” refers to any computerized component,system or entity regardless of form, which is adapted to provide data,files, applications, content, or other services to one or more otherdevices or entities on a computer network.

As used herein, the term “legacy” refers to any component, system,process, or method which is prior to the most current generation,revision, or modification of such component, system, process, or method.

As used herein, the term “statistical” refers without limitation to anyprocess, component or analytical framework based at least in part on oneor more statistical, anecdotal or deterministic parameters. Suchprocess, component or framework may be implemented for example using aposteriori data, via actual or effective a priori relationships or data,or otherwise.

Overview

The present invention provides, inter alia, apparatus and methods forenhancing the efficiency and capability of multiplexed network systemssuch as cable television networks with respect to various types ofcontent carried thereon. Specifically, in one salient aspect, thepresent invention provides improved multiplexing apparatus and methodsthat allow such systems to dynamically compensate for content (e.g.,advertisements, promotions, or other programs) that is inserted at adownstream network node such as a local hub.

In one variant, a “feed-back” approach is used wherein one or moredownstream multiplexing processes communicate information back to theirupstream multiplexing process(es) in order to permit the upstreamprocess(es) to adjust one or more operational parameters (such as thebandwidth allocated to the content programs comprising the multiplex).

In another variant, a feed-forward approach is used wherein the upstreammultiplexing process(es) provide information relating to the originalmultiplex to the downstream nodes (e.g., hubs) in order to provide ananticipatory control of the downstream multiplexing processes (such as,e.g., adjusting the parameters of the content to be inserted into thestream).

Various other configurations (including network topologies having threeor more multiplexing stages), and new business models made possible bythe aforementioned feed-back and feed-forward approaches, are alsodescribed.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and methods of the presentinvention are now described in detail. While these exemplary embodimentsare described in the context of the hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cablearchitecture having an multi-system operator (MSO), digital networkingcapability, and plurality of client devices/CPE, the general principlesand advantages of the invention may be extended to other types ofnetworks and architectures where the efficient allocation oflarger-bandwidth programs or content is desired. Hence, the followingdescription is merely exemplary in nature.

It will also be appreciated that while described generally in thecontext of a network providing service to a consumer (i.e., home) enduser domain, the present invention may be readily adapted to other typesof environments including, e.g., commercial/enterprise, andgovernment/military applications. Myriad other applications arepossible.

Furthermore, the terms “first” and “second”, “upstream” and“downstream”, and “earlier” and “later” as used herein with respect tocertain embodiments connote only a relative relationship between twocomponents or processes, and not any absolute placement within anetwork, architecture or logical process. For example, a first-stagemultiplexer according to the invention may be separated from asecond-stage multiplexer by one or more intermediary components(including other multiplexer/demultiplexer stages). Similarly, thefirst-stage multiplexer might refer to a stage in a reverse channel,wherein the second-stage multiplexer is closer to the signal destination(e.g., head end of a cable network). As yet another alternative, logicalprocesses associated with a later or “downstream” stage may actually beperformed before processing by an “upstream” or earlier stage. Hence,the present invention should in no way be considered limited to anyparticular architecture or relationship, the embodiments presentedherein being merely exemplary of the broader concepts.

It is further noted that while described primarily in the context of 6MHz RF channels, the present invention is applicable to literally anyfrequency/bandwidth, such as for example 8 MHz channels. Furthermore, asreferenced above, the invention is in no way limited to traditionalcable system frequencies (i.e., below 1 GHz), and in fact may be usedwith systems that operate above 1 GHz band in center frequency orbandwidth, to include without limitation so-called ultra-widebandsystems.

Lastly, while described primarily in the context of a downstream“broadcast” paradigm, it will be understood that the various aspects ofthe present invention are equally applicable regardless of whether agiven program is intended for broadcast or supplied via an on-demand(OD) or other such “user pull” service.

Many other permutations of the foregoing system components andcommunication methods may also be used consistent with the presentinvention, as will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in thefield.

Bearer Network Architecture—

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a multi-channelhub-based cable network architecture useful with the present invention.The illustrated network 100 comprises several components, including acentral headend station 101, a fiber transport network 102, a pluralityof hubs 104, and coaxial distribution network 106. The distributionnetwork distributes signals from the hub(s) 104 to at least one consumerpremises equipment 110 through at least one distribution node 108. Aswill be recognized, the illustrated network 100 represents only part ofthe digital video program system associated with a central headend 101;in practice, the headend 101 also provides television services toseveral other hubs connected by other fiber transport networks, notspecifically shown in FIG. 1.

As discussed below with reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b , the headend 101typically includes functional elements useful to create digital programstreams for transportation over the fiber network 102. These include,but not limited to, integrated receiver decoders (IRDs), encoders (e.g.,compression equipment), and multiplexers.

In a typical cable network, the first stage of statistical multiplexingis typically implemented at the headend location 101. At each hub 104, asecond stage of statistical multiplexing is implemented wherein someprograms received from the headend will be replaced by localprogramming, advertisements or other content, and sent for distributionto all or a subset of the CPE 110 connected downstream from theservicing hub 104.

FIG. 1a illustrates the content-based aspects of the exemplary networkconfiguration of FIG. 1. The various content-based components of thenetwork 100 include (i) one or more data and application originationpoints 122; (ii) one or more application distribution servers 124; and(iii) one or more VOD servers 126. The distribution server(s) 124. VODservers 126 and CPE(s) 110 are connected via various portions of thebearer (e.g., fiber and HFC) network. A simple architecture comprisingone of each of the aforementioned components 122, 124, 126 is shown inFIG. 1a for simplicity, although it will be recognized that comparablearchitectures with multiple origination points, distribution servers,VOD servers, and/or CPE devices (as well as different networktopologies) may be utilized consistent with the invention. For example,the headend architecture of FIG. 1b (described in greater detail below)may be used.

The application origination point 122 comprises any medium that allowsan application (such as a VOD based application) to be transferred to adistribution server 124. This can include for example an applicationvendor website, CD-ROM, external network interface, mass storage device(e.g., RAID system), etc. Such transference may be automatic, initiatedupon the occurrence of one or more specified events (such as the receiptof a request packet or ACK), performed manually, or accomplished in anynumber of other modes readily recognized by those of ordinary skill.

The application distribution server 124 comprises a computer systemwhere such applications can enter the network system. Distributionservers are well known in the networking arts, and accordingly notdescribed further herein.

The VOD server 126 a computer system where on-demand content can bereceived from one or more data sources 122 and enter the network system.These servers may generate the content locally, or alternatively act asa gateway or intermediary from a distant source. The VOD server 126includes the Session Resource Manager (SRM) functionality, and asks theDigital Network Control System (DNCS) for resources. The DNCS respondswith negative or positive response to the request, and the VOD serverimplements the appropriate resource allocation logic, such as thatdescribed in co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/881,979 filedJun. 29, 2004 and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NETWORK BANDWIDTHALLOCATION” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, althoughother approaches and configurations may be used with equal success.

The CPE 110 includes any equipment in the “consumers' premises” (orother locations, whether local or remote to the distribution server 124)that can be accessed by a distribution server 124. Such CPE 110comprises processors and associated computer memory adapted to store andrun the downloaded or resident application, as well as receive thestreamed in-band content. In the present context, at least a portion ofthe VOD application is typically downloaded to the CPE 110, wherein thelatter executes the downloaded application(s)/components, although itwill be recognized that all of applications may conceivably be uploadedto the server, or alternatively transferred to another device, such asother networked CPE or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 1b , one exemplary embodiment of a headendarchitecture useful with the present invention is described. As shown inFIG. 1b , the headend architecture 101 comprises typical headendcomponents and services including billing module 152, subscribermanagement system (SMS) and CPE configuration management module 154,cable-modem termination system (CMTS) and OOB system 156, ConditionalAccess System 157, Network Management System (NMS) 159, as well asLAN(s) 158, 160 placing the various components in data communicationwith one another. It will be appreciated that while a bar or bus LANtopology is illustrated, any number of other arrangements as previouslyreferenced (e.g., ring, star, etc.) may be used consistent with theinvention. It will also be appreciated that the headend configurationdepicted in FIG. 1b is high-level, conceptual architecture and that eachMSO may have multiple headends deployed using custom architectures.

The architecture 101 of FIG. 1b further includes amultiplexer/encrypter/modulator (MEM) 162 coupled to the network 100adapted to “condition” content for transmission over the network. TheMEM 162 also comprises a first multiplexer stage, described in greaterdetail subsequently herein with respect to FIG. 3. In the presentcontext, the distribution servers 124 are coupled to the LAN 160, whichprovides access to the MEM 162 and network 100 via one or more fileservers 170. The VOD servers 126 are coupled to the LAN 160 as well,although other architectures may be employed (such as for example wherethe VOD servers are associated with a core switching device such as an802.3z Gigabit Ethernet device). As previously described, information iscarried across multiple channels. Thus, the headend must be adapted toacquire the information for the carried channels from various sources.Typically, the channels being delivered from the headend 101 to the CPE110 (“downstream”) are multiplexed together in the headend and sent toneighborhood hubs 104 of FIG. 1.

Content (e.g., audio, video, etc.) is provided in each downstream(in-band) channel associated with the relevant service group. Tocommunicate with the headend, the CPE 110 uses the out-of-band (OOB) orDOCSIS channels and associated protocols. For example, the OCAP 1.0specification provides for networking protocols both downstream andupstream.

In another embodiment, the network infrastructure includes one or moreon-demand file or “carousel” functions. Specifically, the presentinvention contemplates that not only will more traditional movie (e.g.,MPEG) data be allocated and delivered though the coordinated multi-stagemultiplexing mechanisms described herein, but also data for interactiveapplications or other types of applications. In fact, it will beappreciated that any variable bit rate stream subject to lossycompression could benefit from the techniques of the present invention.For example, these techniques may be applied to digitized voice andmusic.

It will also be recognized that the multiple servers (content orotherwise) can be used, and disposed at two or more different locationsif desired, such as being part of different server “farms”. Thesemultiple servers can be used to feed one service group, or alternativelydifferent service groups. In a simple architecture, a single server isused to feed one or more service groups. In another variant, multipleservers located at the same location are used to feed one or moreservice groups. In yet another variant, multiple servers disposed atdifferent location are used to feed one or more service groups. Oneexemplary multi-server architecture particularly useful with the presentinvention is described in co-pending and co-owned United States PatentApplication Publication No. 20020059619 to Lebar published May 16, 2002and entitled “Hybrid central/distributed VOD system with tiered contentstructure” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Many other permutations of the foregoing system components andcommunication methods may also be used consistent with the presentinvention, as will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in thefield.

Statistical Multiplexing Methods and Subsystem—

Referring now to FIGS. 2-2 c, exemplary embodiments of the statisticalmultiplexing methods and subsystem according to the present inventionare described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the exemplary embodiment of the statisticalmultiplexing method 200 according to the present invention (“feed-back”variant) comprises first receiving a plurality of content elements(e.g., programs P₁ . . . P_(n)) at a first or upstream statisticalmultiplexing process (step 202). This first process also receivesinformation (described in detail below) from one or more downstreamstages (step 204) relating to actions to be taken at those downstreamstages (e.g., content to be inserted, programs to be removed, etc.). Thefirst stage multiplexes the content elements together (step 206), withthe multiplexing process being conducted based at least in part on theinformation received from the downstream stages. This multiplexed streamis then transmitted downstream to the later stages (step 208), where thecontent insertion/replacement takes place (step 210). This modified or“amended” multiplex is then transmitted further downstream (step 212),such as to a customer's premises.

FIG. 2a is a functional block diagram of a statistical multiplexingsubsystem 220 according to the invention in the context of a videotransport network. It will be appreciated that while shown and describedin a functional block diagram context, the various components of thesubsystem 220 may comprise software processes (e.g., distributedapplications or the like), firmware, hardware, or any combination of theforegoing. Hence, the exemplary configurations of FIGS. 2a and 2c arelogical in nature only, and not determinative of any particularimplementation.

In the illustrated subsystem 220, two-stage multiplexing is performed ondigital video programs or other such content. The first multiplexingstage aggregates a number of content elements (e.g., programs) P1through P5 221 using a statistical multiplexer (“stat-mux”) 222 in amultiplexed stream 226. This multiplexed stream is transported to anumber of second multiplexer stages. In FIG. 2a , four (4) secondmultiplexer stages 230, 232, 234 and 236 are shown each with its ownoutput program multiplex 240, 242, 244 and 246, respectively, whereinsome content elements (e.g., programs) from the stream 226 are removed.It will be appreciated that any number of first-stage and second-stagemultiplexers can be used consistent with the invention, the illustratedembodiment being merely illustrative of the broader principles.

Each second stage stat-mux 230, 232, 234 and 236 is communicativelycoupled with the first stage stat-mux 222 via a data connection 228.Depending on the physical configuration, locations, and desiredattributes of the various system components, such data connection mightcomprise, e.g., a direct hardwired data interface, a packetized protocolinterface (such as via a conventional Ethernet, USB, IEEE-1394, orsimilar interface), a wireless interface (such as 802.11, UWB, 3G/UMTS,WiMAX, millimeter wave, satellite, etc.), optical fiber interface, andso forth. In one alternate embodiment, the communication is achieved viaoff-line communication means such as human operator typing or loadinginformation at a headend or hub. Myriad different configurations foreffectively communicating data between the various stat-mux entities ofthe subsystem 200 will be recognized by those of ordinary skill providedthe present disclosure.

An example of how temporal statistical information about a streamobtained at one stage can be used to improve multiplexing performance atanother stage is illustrated in the bitrate graph of FIG. 2b . TheX-axis or abscissa 252 in this Figure represents time progression (e.g.,in units of milliseconds, or in video frame sequence number). The Y-axisor ordinate 250 represents a measure of instantaneous bitrate used forcoding a particular content element or program. The first trace 258represents instantaneous bitrate required to encode an exemplary programP1 of the input multiplex 221, using a prior-art stat-mux technique tomeet a given video quality objective (e.g., PNSR). The time line (X-axis252) is split into five periods T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 labeled 260, 262,264, 266 and 268 respectively. As can be seen from the graph of thefirst line 258, the bitrate required to encode P1 is relatively constantthrough time period T1 and T2, is slightly lower in T3 and goes up to aslightly higher value in periods T4 and T5.

FIG. 2b also shows a similar bitrate requirement graph trace 254 for asecond program PA1, representing a replacement program that will beinserted in place of the original program P1 at the second or downstreamstage multiplexer 230. The replacement program requires relatively lowbitrates during periods T1, T2 and T4. Since the bitrate required by thereplacement program is in fact lower than the bitrate taken by theprogram P1 that will be dropped, second stage multiplexing in T1, T2 andT4 time periods can be relatively straightforward. However, the graphshows that instantaneous bandwidth requirement of the replacementprogram to maintain visual quality spikes up to a comparatively highervalue during period T3 and is also higher in period T5 than the value ofthe original program P1.

A third trace 256 is shown in FIG. 2b , representing how an exemplaryembodiment of a “bandwidth shaping” algorithm according to the presentinvention can take the increased need for replacement program bandwidthin period T3 into account, and produce an actual compression stream (P1actual) 270 for program P1. In this illustration, the first stagemultiplexer 222 increases bits allocated to program P1 in time intervalT3 by taking a small amount of bandwidth away from the program inperiods T1 and T2, based on e.g., data fed back to the first stage fromthe second stage as to the type and parameters of the replacementprogram to be inserted. This “reserved” bandwidth in the originalmultiplex can then be used by the replacement program to improve thequality of the replacement program in the outgoing stream (as comparedto what such quality would be without the extra bandwidth granted in T3by the present invention).

It will be appreciated that the foregoing control of the bandwidth orother parameters may be conducted using any number of schemes, includingfor example on an effectively instantaneous albeit somewhat latent basis(e.g., based on an essentially constant stream of data), on a periodicbasis (e.g., once per period of time or number of frames), on astatistical basis (e.g., based on statistics generated previously orduring the bandwidth shaping operations), or combinations thereof. Inparticular, one embodiment of the invention utilizes the feed-backinformation at the first multiplexer stage to account for the latency inbandwidth demand between the stages.

The statistical information about programs or content exchanged betweenthe stat-muxing stages can include information such as picture ratetiming, macroblock/slice rate timing, scene change detection, 3:2pulldown sequencing information, field/frame compression mode, picturequality information (peak-signal-to-noise ratio or PSNR), etc. Feed-backinformation may also comprise information such as number ofadvertisements or other content elements to be inserted (and hence thenumber of programs in the original multiplex to be replaced where theinserted content is inserted in place of existing program content), thestarting and stopping times of the insertions (or duration, such asbeing referenced to an SI clock of other indicia, or as measured in anumber of frames), and the like. Such information can be generated apriori (e.g., such as before any statistical multiplexing or other suchprocessing is applied to the content) or a posteriori (e.g., such asafter statistical multiplexing or other processing is applied).

Capability information exchanged between the various multiplexing stagescan include for example information regarding which parameters areimportant to a certain multiplexing implementation, how often anyquantization/rate changing applied to the content (e.g., once everymacroblock, once every slice, once every frame, and so on), bandwidthand end-to-end delay for communicating the messages, etc.

It will also be appreciated that the aforementioned “statistical” orcapability information may also be transmitted in the form of metadataof the type well known in the networking arts. For example, in onevariant, a generalized (standardized) syntax is used to promoteinteroperability between the components/processes of various serviceproviders. Alternatively, a proprietary syntax may be utilized for allor part of the data, thereby assuring interoperability only betweenequipment and processes of one system operator. This data can also beprotected using any number of well known security techniques, includingsecurity mechanisms within the physical or link layers of the indigenoustransport channel used to carry the data, session layer security, IPSecor VPN tunneling, application layer encryption, and so forth.

The above example of FIG. 2b merely illustrates one exemplary embodimentof the present invention, wherein feed-back from a downstream(subsequent) stage in a signal path is used as at least a partial basisfor controlling the multiplexing/encoding performed at a prior stage ofthe stat-mux process. As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill,the exact details of the time variation of bitrates and values in eachtime interval are not critical to the invention, and may be implementedin literally any fashion desired.

Additionally, as shown by the dotted lines used to represent the dataconnections 208 between the first- and second-stage stat-muxes in FIG.2a , the inter-stage data communications may be selectively applied toall or only a subset of the second stage stat-mux processes 230, 232,234, 236, such as where the first stage stat-mux 222 selectively masks,filters, or tunes out the data from one or more of the second-stagestat-mux processes under certain circumstances. For example, where onlyone of the second-stage processes 230, 232, 234, 236 is going to conductreplacement program insertion during a given period of time, there maybe no need to maintain a data channel 228 to the other (non-inserting)processes. Similarly, the adjustment process (e.g., bandwidth shapingalgorithm) may only require or desire input from a subset of thedownstream stages, irrespective of whether those stages are insertingreplacement content.

In one exemplary configuration, the headend or first stage multiplexingprocess 222 is also optionally configured to evaluate the effect of theprospective insertions to be carried out by the downstream nodes (e.g.,hubs 104) in order to determine the impact on program quality for thenon-inserted programs/streams. For example, if the number/qualityrequirements of downstream insertions is such that a significant impacton the quality of the non-inserted content will be realized, then theheadend process 222 may selectively restrict or “throttle” changes itmakes in terms of allocated bandwidth (e.g., by limiting the magnitudeor rate shaping occurring within a given period of time), and/orrestrict the ability of one or more downstream nodes to make theprospective insertions/replacements.

In another exemplary embodiment, more than two multiplexer stages (FIG.2c ) may be used consistent with the invention. In this approach, first,second, and at least third stages 280, 282, 284 of multiplexers areemployed to allow a progressive or step-wise approach to bandwidthshaping and multiplexing. For example, in one variant, the multiplexersof the third stage 284 feed information back to the second stage 282,with the latter optionally feeding information back to the first stage280. Specifically, it is noted that data or information generated by thethird stage 284 may be processed or utilized by the second stage 282 ina manner which is different from how the first stage 280 might use thatinformation. The second stage may perform insertion or not; e.g., it mayinsert all types of content, only certain types of replacement content,or none at all. This can be heterogeneous with the capabilities of thethird stage 284. Accordingly, the feed-back information used by thesecond stage 282 may differ in quality or character as compared to anysuch information which is (optionally) fed back to the first stage 280.Stated differently, factors such as the nature of the content beinginserted, its bandwidth requirements, and so forth for one stage may bedifferent for another stage, and hence the present inventioncontemplates a heterogeneous environment wherein the statisticalmultiplexing controls or adjustments implemented at one stage maydifferent from those implemented at another stage.

It will be appreciated that such a multi-stage approach may be conductedin a completely decoupled fashion (e.g., wherein the data fed back fromthe third stage 284 to the second stage 282 is effectively independentof what is fed back from the second stage 282 to the first stage 280,and hence the bandwidth shaping algorithms for the various stages mayoperate substantially independent of one another), or alternatively in acoupled fashion (i.e., the data or control information fed back to thefirst stage 280 is predicated or derived at least in part from that sentback from the third stage 284). Such coupled operation may be performedserially; e.g., such as where the data/commands fed back to the firststage 280 must necessarily occur after the receipt (and analysis) at thesecond stage 282 of data from the third stage 284. Alternatively, thecoupled process may occur in a statistical or averaged fashion, such aswhere data obtained by the second stage 282 from the third stage 284over time is used to form periodic transmissions of control or otherdata to the first stage 280, inespective of any temporal or logicalrelationship between the two data sets. Myriad other approaches will berecognized by those of ordinary skill.

As yet another alternative, the data from the third stage mayselectively “bypass” the second stage 282 and be routed directly to thefirst stage multiplexer 280. In this approach, the second stagemultiplexing process is substantially transparent to the other stages280, 284.

It will further be recognized that the present invention may beimplemented in the context of a “feed-forward” configuration, whereininformation relating to the statistical multiplexing process (or relateddata) can be fed forward from an earlier or upstream stage to a later ordownstream stage. For example, in one embodiment, the first stagestat-mux 222 of FIG. 2a can generate data (e.g., bitrate characteristicsor the like) relating to the original program content P1-P5, or theresulting multiplexed stream, and feed this information downstream toall or a subset of the second stage muxes in order to provideanticipatory control/insertion at the second stage muxes. In onevariant, the feed-forward information is used to shape or control thebandwidth of the inserted content, thereby allowing thecontent-insertion process to adjust to the program bandwidthrequirements at the ingress to the first stage multiplexer 222. Asbefore, this shaping or control can be applied (almost) instantaneously,statistically, periodically, or in any other such fashion as desired inorder to provide the desired level/characteristics of control andgranularity.

As yet another option, time- or event-modulated, or evennear-contemporaneous feed-back and feed-forward statistical multiplexingmay be utilized. For example, in one variant, the fed-back andfeed-forward processes may be selectively employed based on one or moreselection criteria such as, e.g., the availability of bandwidth shapingat the first or second stage muxes. When the first stage mux does nothave the capability (or otherwise does not desire to impose bandwidthshaping at a given point in time for other reasons), the feed-forwardapproach may be invoked in order to impose shaping of the insertedcontent. The converse may also be true; i.e., a feed-back approach isinvoked where feed-forward is impossible or undesirable. As anotheralternative, feed-back or feed-forward shaping may be applied only uponthe occurrence of certain events such as during certain periods of time,the use of particular services, or the creation of sessions (e.g., ODsessions) by one or more users served by a given hub, and so forth.

It is also anticipated that there will be situations where the feed-backand feed-forward approaches can be used in tandem; e.g. where rateshaping at the first stage and shaping of the inserted content at thesecond stage are used concurrently in order to meet one or more systemgoals such as conservation of bandwidth on a system-wide basis. However,care must be taken to avoid situations where an “open” control cycle iscreated due to latency inherent in the system, wherein changes in onestage precipitate a corresponding adjustment in another stage, whichgenerates feed-back causing another change in the first stage, and soforth. Accordingly, in one approach, the duration of the intervalbetween changes in either stage is controlled by the system logic so asto avoid too rapid a response to feed-back/feed-forward situations,thereby allowing the system to “settle” before additional changes oradjustments are permitted. It will be recognized that other approachesfor preventing such open-loop conditions may be used as well, suchapproaches being well known to those of ordinary skill in the controlsystem arts.

It will also be appreciated that the second or “downstream” stagemultiplexers can serve multiple master first stages if desired. Forexample, in one variant of the invention, the first stage statisticalmultiplexing process comprises two or more individual multiplexingprocesses; such as where two headend multiplexers are disposed withinrespective ones of different distribution networks. The two (or more)upstream processes are tied to one or more of the hubs 104, with the hubusing the downstream multiplexes from each upstream stage on a shared(e.g., time-divided, multiplexed, or switched basis). Accordingly, thefeed-back information can be passed from that hub to both of theupstream processes such that each of the latter may adjust its operationas previously described herein in response to content to be inserted atthe hub 104. Such adjustment by the upstream processes may also be on atime-divided, multiplexed or switched basis.

In one exemplary variant of the invention, existing statisticalmultiplexing and communications hardware/software present in thedistribution network is utilized as the basis of the enhancedcommunication and multiplexing capabilities described herein. Forexample, the data relevant to the aforementioned statisticalmultiplexing communications between the stages (e.g., feed-back orfeed-forward) can be packaged or encapsulated within existing networkingprotocols such as RCP/RTCP, SIP, or the like, thereby obviating therequirement for significant changes to the existing infrastructure. Inmany cases, the implementation of the current invention can beaccomplished merely through modification of a portion of the protocolstack(s) within the headend and hub statistical multiplexing softwareprocesses, and completely above the physical layers of the network.Hence, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention areadvantageously independent of or agnostic to the lower layers of thebearer medium, thereby adding significant flexibility in terms of rapidand cost-effective implementation in existing networks.

In another embodiment of the invention, the downstream (i.e.,feed-forward) information sent from one stage to another is sent via anin-band transport stream, such as via the equivalent of SI packetsencoded and multiplexed into the stream at the headend process. Thesepackets are then identified at the hub 104, extracted from the transportstream, decoded, with the decoded payload being used for rate shaping orsimilar functions as previously described herein.

Similarly, it will be appreciated that the feed-back information mayutilize an existing out-of-band (OOB) or similar channel in order toprovide communications between the hub(s) 104 and the headend process101.

Headend Multiplexing—

The multiplexing functions performed at an upstream location in thenetwork (e.g., the headend 101 of FIG. 1) according to one exemplaryembodiment of the present invention are now explained in detail. It willbe appreciated that while a feed-back arrangement is described, thevarious aspects of the headend processing may be readily adapted bythose of ordinary skill for feed-forward operation, and/or multi-stagedoperation, as previously described herein.

The various functional elements of the headend multiplexing system 300are shown in FIG. 3. It should be noted that the illustratedconfiguration is a functional block diagram, with no suggestion orrequirement that certain functions described below should or must beimplemented in any particular manner or implementation. Hence, variousconfigurations are possible that implement the functionality inhardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof (such as, e.g.,the “layered” software approach previously described). Suchconfigurations may have elements that are spatially localized, oralternatively distributed over two or more locations as well.

In a conventional digital cable network, the headend 101 typicallyperforms the function of content aggregation for sending the contentdownstream to various hubs 104 in the cable network (see FIG. 1). Thecontent is aggregated using multiplexes of the individual program orother content elements. The total bandwidth occupied by a multiplex iscommensurate with the bandwidth available on a 6 MHz QAM channel onwhich that particular multiplex is modulated when sent on the coaxialportion of the network.

The programming available at the headend 101 for such aggregation iseither in uncompressed format (e.g., local channels as over the airtransmission) or pre-compressed format (e.g., pre-compressed digitalprograms from a local content servers or from satellite feeds 161 viae.g., a demodulator and decryptor 163 as show in FIG. 1b herein).Accordingly, the programs are either encoded or transcoded to fit withina given digital multiplex.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the processing performed to create anOriginal Program Multiplex (OPM) 328 can be described as follows.Programs available in the compressed format 306 are transcoded, forexample using statistical multiplexing techniques, under the control ofa Packet Scheduler/Remultiplexer (PSR) function 302. The PSR allocatesinstantaneous bandwidth available to each program and conveys thatinformation via a control signal 330 to the transcoder 304.Conventionally, the transcoding function is also called requantizer orrate shaper. Programs that are available in an analog or un-compressedformat 308 are encoded (compressed) under the control of the PSRfunction. Based on various parameters such as the instantaneousbandwidth available and quality of quantized video, the PSR functionprovides feed-back to the encoder 332 regarding instantaneous bitsavailable to encode each program into the OPM signal 328. Additionally,a Quantization Decision Logic (QDL) function 301 aids the PSR with bitallocation functionality for various programs being aggregated in theOPM.

The primary function of the QDL 301 is, via a signal interface 326between the QDL and PSR, to fine tune the instantaneous bit allocated bythe PSR 302 to each program in the Original Program Multiplex by takinginto consideration feed-back regarding downstream program insertion thatit receives from the hubs 104 via an interface 312, any additionalnetwork operator settings 314, quality feed-back from the transcoder forprograms being transcoded 316, quality feed-back from the encoder forprograms being encoded 318, and feed-back from the PSR 324.

In various embodiments, the feed-back received from the hubs 104 via theinterface 312 (or other interface not shown) can include informationregarding, inter alia (i) which program from the OPM is being removed atthat hub; (ii) the start and/or end time of removal; (iii) contentstatistics for the replacement program that is (or will be) inserted;(iv) scene changes in the replacement program, and so forth. In atypical deployment, one headend 101 will provide aggregated programmingto several hubs 104, although other arrangements (such as a one-to-one,or even a many-to-one configuration) may be utilized.

Certain types of feed-back from a hub 104 may tend to cause the QDL 301request to increase the instantaneous bitrate of an outgoing program(e.g. an upcoming scene change in the replacement material at the hub).Other types of feed-back may result in a reduction in the instantaneousbitrate for the outgoing program (e.g., all or a portion of thereplacement material has faded to black). The QDL 301 also has theadditional function of reconciling feed-back from various hub locations.The network operator may want to provide certain settings or algorithmsto enable the QDL to weight and/or prioritize use (or the magnitude ortype of effect) associated with feed-back from multiple hub locations onthe instantaneous bitrates of outgoing streams. Such functionality maybe implemented, e.g., in the form of algorithms based on weighting orprioritization equations, and configured and modified via a graphicalinterface to the multiplexing device. This functionality may also beimposed according to a rules or similar engine, wherein the weightingand/or prioritization is varied as a function of time of day,destination of the multiplex (e.g., geographic area), profile of theusers being served by the multiplex, and so forth.

In some implementations, the bitrate decision may take into account howmany hub locations at which a program will be removed. For example, if aprogram of the OMP 328 is scheduled to be replaced at a significantnumber of hubs, the relative visual quality of that program may bede-emphasized in favor of other programs that are not being (so widely)replaced. Alternatively, the headend 101 may check for the relativepriority of the replacement material. For example, if a replacementprogram at one hub 104 is deemed to have a higher priority than areplacement program at another hub, the feed-back from the higherpriority replacement hub may be given more weight during the headendmultiplexing process. Various embodiments of such priorities areenvisioned under the present invention, including for example a numberscale (e.g. a 1-to-10 rating system), binary priorities or fuzzy logicvariables (e.g., “high”, “low”) or priority tiers (e.g., high, medium,low, “don't care”). Feed-back from the hubs 104 can also includequality-based or similar feed-back regarding programs that are not beingreplaced, but perhaps being rate-changed by the hub multiplexer.

Under the exemplary embodiment of the invention, other network operatorsettings may be imposed including, without limitation, maximum andminimum rate variations allowed for each program, visual quality metricsto be met on each program in the OMP, and so on. These settings may alsotake the form of profiles, wherein a coordinated set of settings andlogical functions adapted for particular commonly encounteredcircumstances are selectively implemented by the network operator. Forexample, a typical profile according to the invention might comprisespecification of certain rate variations imposed on a program or time ofday basis, along with a prioritization scheme and rules engine-basedcontrols adapted to maximize economic attributes such as revenue. As canbe appreciated, such profiles may be rapidly switched in or out, and canalso be modified (“tweaked”) on the fly by the operators if desired.

The transcoder quality feed-back 324 shown in FIG. 3 provides the QDLinformation regarding outcome of the bit allocation performed by the PSR302, and also any measure of the visual quality of the outcome (e.g.,Peak Signal to Noise Ratio or PSNR of each program in the OPM 328).

Information provided by the encoder and transcoder functions 332, 304 tothe QDL 301 can include information regarding scene changes, framecoding sequence (e.g., I, P, B frame encoding of the MPEG-2 format) thatmight be of interest to both the headend multiplexing and downstream hubmultiplexers. Other parameters might include for example average motionvector length (indicates fast or slow motion), quantization permacroblock (average or weighted), and/or bits per macroblock (average orweighted).

Hub Multiplexing—

Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary embodiment of the multiplexingfunction 400 at a hub 104 is described in detail. As shown in FIG. 4,the hub function 400 comprises a multiplexing and requantization (HMR)process 402 that receives the OPM 402 from the headend 101 (or otherintermediate node) to produce a modified program multiplex (MPM) 404 fordownstream distribution. The HMR process 402 optionally replaces one ormore programs or content elements (e.g., advertisements or promotions)of the OPM 328 by inserting replacement programs(s) from a locallyavailable program/content element, the latter typically stored on astorage device such as hard drive or a tape machine 406, oralternatively transiently stored in a buffer arrangement after receiptfrom a third party source (such as a content “pull” from a third partyvendor over the Internet or other delivery mode). Such insertion may beperformed either by transcoding or encoding the replacement content,depending on the format in which the replacement program is stored orprovided.

In certain implementations, a “look-ahead” function 414 can alsooptionally be utilized to provide temporal or other statistics of thereplacement content to a headend mux feed-back function 410 implementedat the hub 104 in order to provide feed-back 408 to an upstreammultiplexing function (e.g., that at the headend 101). The look-aheadfunction 414 is also useful to the local multiplexer/re-quantizer (HMR)402 in creating the local MPM 404 for downstream distribution. Since thelook-ahead function is communicatively coupled with the headendmultiplexer process, it receives temporal statistics and informationabout programs/content in the OPM 328 that will be useful for the HMR402. Pre-processing of content to be inserted can also be conductedbefore delivery of the content to the hub 104 (or at the hub uponreceipt, in advance of its insertion).

To enable monitoring of program quality on the outgoing MPM 404 andadjustment of the level of multiplexing and quantization, a qualityfeed-back function 412 can also optionally be used. This process 412provides, inter alia, program quality monitoring that can be used by theheadend mux feed-back logic 410 in developing feed-back ultimately sentto the upstream multiplexing node(s).

In the illustrated embodiment, an input 416 is also optionally providedto the multiplexing decision logic 410 that communicates the networkoperator's control settings to the statistical multiplexing process atthe hub 104. The control provided by the network operator's settings orprofiles on multiplexing at the hub(s) 104 can be substantially similarto the headend multiplexing controls described previously herein, or maybe more specifically tailored to the operating environment of thatparticular hub (e.g., to take into account the particular configuration,geography, and/or customer base within the area served by that hub 104).

Delayed and Switched Digital Variants—

In another aspect of the invention, a uniform delay is optionallyintroduced between upstream and downstream stages (e.g., the headend andhub multiplexer stages previously described herein). Specifically, oneexemplary embodiment of the invention (see FIG. 5) applies this delay501 uniformly to the aggregate multiplex bitstream 504 generated by thefirst multiplexing stage 502, and to all program streams 506 that mayneed to be added to the multiplex. The purpose of this time delay is to,from the viewpoint of the second or downstream stage 508, provide“future looking” data about the bitrate requirements or other parametersof the streams in the multiplex with an additional or substitutedstream. Advantageously, this future looking data (as well as data bywhich the second stage can determine the timing or magnitude of thedelay) 510 is provided prior to the act of adding or substituting thenew stream 512. The data is “fed forward” from the first or upstreamstage to the second (or other downstream) stage without any purposefullyintroduced delay (or a delay which is less than the delay of themultiplex), thereby becoming available to the downstream stage prior tothe availability of the content stream(s) with which it is associated.Such an approach allows the downstream stage(s) to improve the qualityof all rate shaping decisions, thereby enhancing picture quality (orotherwise preventing or mitigating any degradation) in one or morestreams that would otherwise be unavoidable without the availability ofthis future looking data.

The aforementioned delay can be implemented using any number oftechniques, including for example buffering the first stage multiplexoutput in a suitably sized FIFO or comparable buffer structure. Thebuffer can be arranged to provide a user-variable delay, such as wherean oversized buffer is used with a variable high-water mark, the lattertriggering output of the stream. Hence, by varying the high-water markrelative to the buffer capacity (e.g., via a software user interface orother such mechanism), the latency or delay imposed on the data isvaried as desired. Myriad other approaches to providing such a uniformdelay may also be employed consistent with the invention, such otherapproaches being readily apparent to those of ordinary skill providedthe present disclosure. It will be appreciated that this delay may bemeasured or imposed as a function of time (e.g., seconds) or anothermetric, such as a number of frames or other such occurrences.

While shown as a separate entity 501 in FIG. 5, the delay function maybe incorporated within the headend multiplexing process 502, the secondstage mux processes 508, or any other logical or physical locationdesired.

The use of the aforementioned delay also provides opportunities forcontrol of the distributed content by the MSO or another entity. Forexample, in one variant of the invention, stream substitutionfacilitated by the aforementioned delay mechanism is applied to ordinaryprogram or content streams based on stream requests that are madethrough various CPE. For example, an on-demand or similar request from auser's CPE is used to instantiate a program stream for delivery to agiven hub 104 or other network distribution node according to a“switched digital” paradigm. For example, co-owned and co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/956,688 filed Sep. 20, 2001 and entitled“Technique For Effectively Providing Program Material In A CableTelevision System”, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety,describes one exemplary switched architecture useful with the presentinvention. The basic underlying premise of such switched architecturesis that the differentiated (e.g., HD or OD) content is not transmittedor broadcast onto the network (or to the local node or entity servicinga given CPE 110) until there is a valid request to view that content.Such request may comprise, for example, a given user's CPE taking aspecific action (e.g. tuning to a user channel carrying the desiredcontent, or transmitting an upstream request signal). In this fashion,the bandwidth of the network is conserved, since programming broadcastsor transmissions that no one is watching are obviated.

The aforementioned optional delay feature of the present inventionadvantageously allows switched digital systems to enjoy the advantagesof statistical multiplexing heretofore not possible due to the real-timenature of the switched programming. Stated differently, existingswitched digital paradigms utilize real-time programming, thereby makingthe insertion of statistically multiplexed content effectivelyimpossible. Furthermore, the need to maintain reasonable anduser-friendly switching (channel change) performance imposes additionalconstraints on the application of multiplexing to switched digitalsystems.

However, by delaying the program delivery to the hub (second stage) by agiven amount as in the present invention, the opportunity to receiveuser-initiated requests and transparently service them through insertionof the requested content, and apply statistical multiplexing, iscreated. Specifically, in one embodiment of the invention, a computerprogram or comparable mechanism is utilized at the second or downstreamstage of the network (e.g., at the local hub 104), wherebyfuture-looking bitrate parameters (and optionally other parameters ofthe type described elsewhere herein) of the available programs areevaluated, and rate-shaping parameters for possible combinations ofthese programs calculated on a speculative basis. In one variant, therate-shaping parameters are calculated for all possible combinations ofprograms. In another variant, a “bounding” or corner-case analysis isperformed, whereby only the worst-case or bounding conditions aredetermined. Yet other speculative analytical approaches known to thoseof ordinary skill in the art may be used as well. This approach ofspeculative evaluation allows CPE program stream additions and/orsubstitutions to be executed within a reasonable time after the requestis issued by the CPE 110, while at the same time facilitating efficientstatistical multiplexing operation.

It will also be appreciated that the delay imposed by the upstreammultiplexing stage may be varied programmatically or according to otherschema. For example, it may be desirable to use a larger or smallerdelay value during certain operating conditions, such asincreased/decreased session or content demand at the individualsecond-stage hubs. This demand may be determined anecdotally orempirically (such as via data accumulated at the hubs and fed back tothe headend multiplexer stage), or via observed or a priorirelationships, such as where it is known that demand increases atcertain times of day and/or in certain geographical areas.

Wideband and Multi-OAM Variants—

While the foregoing embodiments of the present invention are describedprimarily in terms of an infrastructure adapted to transmit content overa single physical channel (e.g., 256-QAM modulated carrier) at any giventime, it will be recognized that this “physical channel” may actuallycomprise one or more distinct carriers. For example, in onemulti-carrier variant of the invention, the content is streamed overmultiple physical carriers according to a multiplexing algorithm such asthat described in co-owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/013,671 filed Dec. 15, 2004 and entitled “Method And ApparatusFor Wideband Distribution Of Content”, incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. Under this approach, the data of a given transportstream can be multiplexed across a plurality of physical carriers, withthe multiplexed signal being reassembled at the CPE 106 using a widebandtuner (or a plurality of related tuners).

Information from the headend as to the multiplexing scheme and channelsused may be provided to the CPE (and intermediate nodes such as thenetwork hubs 104 if desired) in order to enable de-multiplexing (anddecoding) of the multiplexed transport stream. Hence, for the purposesof the present invention, the aggregation of multiplexed channels actslike a single QAM. This is particularly useful in the context of thepresent invention which, as previously described, is substantiallyindependent of any physical layers or underlying bearer medium. Hence,one variant of the present invention in effect constitutes a statisticalmultiplex layered on top of a wideband “physical” multiplex.

Business Methods—

It will be readily appreciated that various aspects of the presentinvention lend themselves to the creation of new business models,wherein network operators, content and advertisement providers, or otherentities can provide or be provided differentiation in the type orquality of service via the interaction of the various networkmultiplexing elements and processes.

For example, in one exemplary business model of the invention, thenetwork operator can assure maintenance of the quality of a certainprogram by insulating it from transcoding/replacement within a givenmultiplex (or at other multiplexes) that could potentially reduce itsquality. This can be applied on a network-wide or per-hub basis asdesired, for example by simply designating hubs (e.g., via theiraddresses or some other mechanism) which should or should not allowreplacement or insertion to occur against the designated content. Thisprotection can also be applied on a temporal or per-user channel basis;e.g., during certain periods of the programming day or on certain userchannels (or physical channels for that matter), the program quality orother metric may be insulated from degradation due to bitrate/bandwidthshaping from downstream multiplexing processes. For example, it may bedesirable to maintain zero loss of quality rules during certain periodsof transmission of standard definition (SD) or high definition (HD)programming.

Similarly, premium “tiered” advertisement service can be offered thatmaintains the quality or other metric of the advertisement by, e.g.,using feed-back regarding the bitrate requirement of that advertisementto rate-shape the OPM 328. This can also be applied on a per-hub,per-occurrence, and/or per-channel basis if desired, such as where (i)the advertisement quality is maintained only for one hub; (ii) theadvertisement quality is maintained only for one or selected occurrencesof insertion of the advertisement; and/or (iii) the advertisementquality is maintained only for one or selected user or physicalchannels.

Furthermore, a “business rules” engine such as one generally of the typedescribed in co-owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/881,979 filed Jun. 29, 2004 previously incorporated herein can beused, although other approaches and configurations may be used withequal success. Such an engine might comprise one or more softwareprocesses running coincident with the aforementioned statisticalmultiplexing processes and adapted to control the upstream and/ordownstream statistical multiplexing processes in order to impose variousbusiness-related rules to, e.g., maximize profit, increaseuser-satisfaction, provide selective promotions or other premiumservices within select geographic areas, etc.

Additionally, it will be recognized that the aforementioned delay-basedand “switched digital” configurations of the present invention may formthe basis of yet other business models. Specifically, the ability toprovide the customer with statistically multiplexed (rate shaped)program content in the switched digital context is a significantbusiness consideration. As previously noted, the switched digitalapproach advantageously reduces local network bandwidth requirements byinstantiating sessions or content delivery only upon the existence of aviable request, and the statistical multiplexing approach of the presentinvention provides the ability to efficiently deliver the requestedcontent without degradation of the quality or timeliness thereof.

Additionally, the aforesaid business models relating to the insertion ofadvertising or promotional content can be extended to the switcheddigital context, since the use of the delay as described above enablesthe use of statistical multiplexing (and hence future-lookingfeed-forward data) in this context. For example, where a user requests agiven content element (e.g., program) via a session request, by tuningto a given user channel, or the like, the local node 104 can beprogrammed to insert corresponding advertising or promotional content(whether logically related to the requested content or otherwise), theinsertion of the advertising/promotional content and the requestedprogram itself being controlled at least in part by using theanticipatory statistical multiplexing data generated by the headend 101.The MSO can therefore, e.g., sell advertising or promotional space on anad hoc basis, without affecting the quality of the user-requestedcontent (or of the advertising or promotional material).

It will be recognized that while certain aspects of the invention aredescribed in terms of a specific sequence of steps of a method, thesedescriptions are only illustrative of the broader methods of theinvention, and may be modified as required by the particularapplication. Certain steps may be rendered unnecessary or optional undercertain circumstances. Additionally, certain steps or functionality maybe added to the disclosed embodiments, or the order of performance oftwo or more steps permuted. All such variations are considered to beencompassed within the invention disclosed and claimed herein.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointedout novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments,it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changesin the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Theforegoing description is of the best mode presently contemplated ofcarrying out the invention. This description is in no way meant to belimiting, but rather should be taken as illustrative of the generalprinciples of the invention. The scope of the invention should bedetermined with reference to the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Network multiplexing apparatus, comprising: aninterface for communication with an upstream multiplexing apparatus; astorage apparatus; and computerized logic in data communication withsaid interface and storage apparatus and configured to cause saidnetwork multiplexing apparatus to: receive information relating to afirst multiplex and a delay period, said first multiplex comprising aplurality of content elements and generated by an upstream multiplexingapparatus; receive, during said delay period, a request for one or moresecond content elements from one or more subscribers in communicationwith said multiplexing apparatus; generate feed-back information basedat least in part on said request; deliver said feed-back information tosaid upstream multiplexing apparatus prior to an expiration of saiddelay period; and receive, upon expiration of said delay period, asecond multiplex from said upstream multiplexing apparatus, said secondmultiplex comprising said requested one or more second content elements.2. The network multiplexing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said secondmultiplex is generated further based on second feed-back informationreceived at said upstream multiplexing apparatus from a thirdmultiplexing apparatus downstream of said multiplexing apparatus andrelating to one or more third content elements to be inserted into saidsecond multiplex by said third multiplexing apparatus; and wherein saidupstream multiplexing apparatus is configured to utilize said feed-backinformation to adjust at least one parameter associated with anoperation of said upstream multiplexing apparatus in order toaccommodate insertion of said one or more third content elements by saidthird multiplexing apparatus.
 3. The network multiplexing apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein: said second multiplex further comprises said pluralityof content elements; and one or more of said plurality of contentelements in said second multiplex comprise an adjusted bitrate relativeto said first multiplex.
 4. The network multiplexing apparatus of claim1, wherein said feed-back information further comprises informationconfigured to enable a determination of an effect on quality of at leastone of said content elements in said second multiplex, said effectresulting from insertion of one or more third content elements to beinserted at said network multiplexing apparatus.
 5. The networkmultiplexing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said feed-back information isderived at least in part from other feed-back information received atsaid network multiplexing apparatus from a downstream multiplexingapparatus.
 6. A multiplexing apparatus for use within a contentdistribution network, comprising: a communications interface; a storageapparatus; and a processor in data communication with saidcommunications interface and said storage apparatus, said processorconfigured to execute at least one computer program thereon, said atleast one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions whichare configured to, when executed, cause said multiplexing apparatus to:create a first multiplex comprising a plurality of primary contentelements; prior to expiration of a pre-determined delay period, provideinformation relating to said first multiplex to at least one of aplurality of downstream multiplexing apparatuses via said communicationsinterface, and receive first feed-back information from said at leastone downstream multiplexing apparatus, said first feed-back informationrelating to one or more second content elements requested by one or moresubscribers to be inserted into said first multiplex; and utilize saidfirst feed-back information to dynamically switch said one or moresecond content elements into said first multiplex prior to a deliverythereof to said at least one downstream multiplexing apparatus, saiddelivery being simultaneous with said expiration of said pre-determineddelay period; prior to said expiration of said pre-determined delayperiod, receive second feed-back information from at least one other oneof said plurality of downstream multiplexing apparatus, said at leastone other one of said plurality of downstream multiplexing apparatusbeing downstream of said at least one of said plurality of multiplexingapparatus; and upon a determination of a prioritization thereof, utilizesaid second feed-back information to adjust at least one parameterassociated with an operation of said multiplexing apparatus, said secondfeed-back information being independent of said first feed-backinformation.
 7. The multiplexing apparatus of claim 6, wherein saidplurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed,cause said multiplexing apparatus to utilize said first feed-backinformation to adjust at least one parameter associated with at leastone of said plurality of primary content elements.
 8. The multiplexingapparatus of claim 7, wherein said information relating to said firstmultiplex comprises data relating to bitrate requirements of each ofsaid plurality of primary content elements within said first multiplex.9. The multiplexing apparatus of claim 8, wherein said utilization ofsaid first feed-back information to adjust at least one parameterassociated with at least one of said plurality of primary contentelements comprises adjusting a bitrate associated with transmission ofat least one of said plurality of primary content elements.
 10. Amultiplexing apparatus for use within a content distribution network,comprising: a communications interface; a storage apparatus; and aprocessor in data communication with said communications interface andsaid storage apparatus, said processor configured to execute at leastone computer program thereon, said at least one computer programcomprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, whenexecuted, cause said multiplexing apparatus to: create a first multiplexcomprising a plurality of primary content elements requested by one ormore subscribers via one or more first user requests for content; priorto expiration of a pre-determined delay period, provide informationrelating to said first multiplex to at least one of a plurality ofdownstream multiplexing apparatuses via said communications interface,and receive first feed-back information from said at least onedownstream multiplexing apparatus, said first feed-back informationrelating to one or more second content elements requested by one or moreother subscribers via one or more second subsequent user requests forcontent, said one or more second content elements to be inserted intosaid first multiplex; utilize said first feed-back information todynamically switch said one or more second content elements into saidfirst multiplex prior to a delivery thereof to said at least onedownstream multiplexing apparatus, said delivery being simultaneous withsaid expiration of said pre-determined delay period; prior to saidexpiration of said pre-determined delay period, receive second feed-backinformation from at least one other one of said plurality of downstreammultiplexing apparatus, said at least one other one of said plurality ofdownstream multiplexing apparatus being downstream of said at least oneof said plurality of multiplexing apparatus; and upon a determination ofa prioritization thereof, utilize said second feed-back information toadjust at least one parameter associated with an operation of saidmultiplexing apparatus, said second feed-back information beingindependent of said first feed-back information.
 11. The multiplexingapparatus of claim 10, wherein said plurality of instructions arefurther configured to, when executed, cause said multiplexing apparatusto utilize said first feed-back information to adjust at least oneparameter associated with at least one of said plurality of primarycontent elements.
 12. The multiplexing apparatus of claim 11, whereinsaid utilization of said first feed-back information to adjust at leastone parameter associated with at least one of said plurality of primarycontent elements comprises adjusting a bitrate of said at least one ofsaid plurality of primary content elements.
 13. The multiplexingapparatus of claim 10, wherein said utilization of said second feed-backinformation to adjust said at least one parameter associated with saidoperation of said multiplexing apparatus comprises adjustment of said atleast one parameter associated with said operation of said multiplexingapparatus in order to accommodate insertion of one or more third contentelements at said at least one other one of said plurality of downstreammultiplexing apparatus.
 14. A method of operating a network multiplexingapparatus in a digital content delivery network, said networkmultiplexing apparatus in data communication with at least an upstreammultiplexing apparatus and a plurality of user computerized devices viaat least one data communication interface and said digital contentdelivery network, said method comprising: receiving data from saidupstream multiplexing apparatus, said data relating to said firstmultiplex and a delay period, said first multiplex comprising aplurality of digitally rendered primary content elements; receiving,during said delay period, a request for one or more digitally renderedsecondary content elements from one or more of said plurality of usercomputerized devices; generating first feed-back data based at least inpart on said request; transmitting said first feed-back data to saidupstream multiplexing apparatus prior to an expiration of said delayperiod; and receiving, upon expiration of said delay period, a secondmultiplex from said upstream multiplexing apparatus, said secondmultiplex comprising said requested one or more digitally renderedsecondary content elements and one or more of said plurality ofdigitally rendered primary content elements.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein said network multiplexing apparatus is in further datacommunication with at least one downstream multiplexing apparatus; andsaid method further comprises receiving second feed-back data from saidat least one downstream multiplexing apparatus, said second feed-backdata relating to one or more digitally rendered tertiary contentelements to be inserted into said second multiplex at said at least onedownstream multiplexing apparatus.
 16. The method of claim 15, whereinsaid generating of said first feed-back data is further based at leastin part on said received second feed-back data in order to provide saidupstream multiplexing apparatus data for adjustment of at least oneparameter associated with an operation of said upstream multiplexingapparatus, the adjustment for at least accommodation of insertion ofsaid one or more digitally rendered tertiary content elements by said atleast one downstream multiplexing apparatus.
 17. The method of claim 14,wherein said generating of said first feed-back data is further based atleast in part on information configured to enable a determination of aneffect on quality of at least one of said plurality of digitallyrendered primary content elements in said second multiplex resultingfrom insertion of one or more digitally rendered tertiary contentelements to be inserted into said second multiplex at said networkmultiplexing apparatus.
 18. A method of operating a network multiplexingapparatus in a digital content delivery network, said networkmultiplexing apparatus in data communication with at least onedownstream multiplexing apparatus and at least one further downstreammultiplexing apparatus via at least one data communication interface andsaid digital content delivery network, said method comprising: creatinga first multiplex comprising a plurality of digitally rendered primarycontent elements; prior to expiration of a pre-determined temporalperiod: transmitting data relating to said first multiplex to said atleast one downstream multiplexing apparatus; receiving first feed-backdata from said at least one downstream multiplexing apparatus, saidfirst feed-back data relating to one or more digitally renderedsecondary content elements requested by one or more user devices in datacommunication with said at least one downstream multiplexing apparatus,said one or more digitally rendered secondary content elements to beinserted into said first multiplex at said network multiplexingapparatus; utilizing said first feed-back data to dynamically switchsaid one or more digitally rendered secondary content elements into saidfirst multiplex to generate a second multiplex; receiving secondfeed-back data from said at least one other downstream multiplexingapparatus; upon a determination of a prioritization thereof, utilizingsaid second feed-back data to adjust at least one parameter associatedwith an operation of said network multiplexing apparatus, said secondfeed-back data being independent of said first feed-back data; and afterexpiration of said pre-determined temporal period, delivering saidsecond multiplex to said downstream multiplexing apparatus.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising utilizing said first feed-backdata to adjust at least one parameter associated with at least one ofsaid plurality of digitally rendered primary content elements in orderto accommodate said dynamic switch of said one or more digitallyrendered secondary content elements into said first multiplex togenerate said second multiplex.